Corporate identity studies has been emerging as a system which needs a strategic planning due to the developments achieved in communication in this globalized world. This system is not only contemporary, but also it includes an expansion network having scientific fields such as nature, history and philosophy, design processes, advertising and promotional campaigns. Corporate identity studies have a very strong organic bond with the processes of creating a brand and building a brand. Here, the studies on the positioning of the city and the brand is very significant. In the twentieth century, sophisticated citizen profile, merging of the contemporary advertising agencies and city governments in a common ideal, created the concept of city branding. Olympic Games, art and design biennials, festivals, tourism phenomenon have been the driving forces supporting the concept of city branding. Social, economic, cultural and artistic level of sophistication along with psychological and philosophical factors have accelerated the city branding process. The cities, in which global trade fairs, competitions, activities are intensified, have gamed the awareness of being a city brand.

The cities which are successful in city branding fact in the twenty-first century are the world’s most powerful in the perception of communication, economy, tourism and politics. Global advertising agencies are making a positive contribution to these developments. Also, the formation of city identity and creation of brand identity are important in this stage. By creating creative qualified associations and discourses with a self-confident city image in city branding, strong urban spirit, intense emotion and commitment; cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Rome, Moscow, New York, London, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Dubai etc. have differentiated just like in Jack Trout's slogan "Differentiate or Die" and by creating a center of gravity, these cities have been gaining reputation. At the end of these processes, city design brand is emerging as a powerful phenomenon.

The subject of this paper consists of approaching to the city branding concept in the globalizing world, logo designing processes in the context of corporate identity design, the relationship between corporate identity culture, philosophy and city branding phenomenon, examination of the advertising and promotion processes. The cities which are mentioned in the paper will be examined for their city branding formation processes and their comparative analysis will be made. Working processes of the agencies which are performing the city branding designs will be examined. Historical, theoretical, visual findings will be evaluated. As the evaluation criteria, design principles will be considered. The achievements in these processes and the cities' city branding gains will be examined. The results of the researches on the effects of city branding designs will be evaluated.